Wichita eagle., 1887-11-25
WITH THE COSSACKS.>a
A BIT OF EXPERIENCE IN
SKIRMISH WITH THE TURKS. =
The ExhiIaration of Riding in a Charge.
Horses as Well as Men Feel Unique
stimulus-An Impressive Devotional
Finale.

The Exhilaration of Riding in a Charge.
Horses as Well as Men Feel a Unique
Stimulus-An Impressive Devotional
Finale.
| About the middle of autumn we made
a reconnaissance in the direction Of Ras-
| grad, to endeavor to discover the strength
OF the enemy there. Three regiments of
Cossacls made up the force, and we
marched all day and part of the night be-
fore we came in the vicinity of the enemy.
On the morning Of the second day it was
reported that considerable detachment
of Turkish irregularS was encamped a
short distance in front of US. We had
been moving during the night with as
little noise as possible, and had bivouacked
in the rain without building a fire, in
order to give no notice of our approach to
the enemy's pickets. 1t was only Just
daybreak when the orders to march were
given, and the column proceeded cautious
II with a few scouts il advance.
In half hour or so we who were riding
a little ahead of the column could see the
characteristic conical Turkish tents as
sembled in a little valley short distance
beyond. At the same instance our scouts
engaged the enemy's pickets, and the
column halted. The camp in sight was
evidently only large outpost, and The
general Immediately gave orders for ono
regiment to form and charge through the
camp. We could see the men OF the deS-
ignated regiment uncover and cross them
selves, and in q moment the head Of the
detachment was rapidly moving past US.
Among the officers rode the major, my
old friend Of the Dobrudscha, who, I'M
known to me, had been promoted to a
lieutenant colOnelcy and transferred to
another regiment AS he dashed past he
made a gesture Of recognition and waved
his hand for me to follow.
RIDING IN A CHARGE.
I believe it was more the horses fault
than my own, for certainly l never had a
deliberate intention of riding in q charge
if I could help, but before knew it was
at the majors side. Of we went at a
trot, changing cur formation TO regi-
mental front. Then, in an irregular line,
much broken by the inequalities Of the
ground, we swept down the slope at q
gallop. There was some firing, and few
Cossacks fell, but l doubt if anybody
heard shot. The thunder Of the hoofs,
the shaking of the grain bags, the rafting
Of the cooking utensils and the resound-
ing whacks Of the nagajkas filed the air
with multitude OF noises which drowned
all other sounds. The exhiIaraticn of the
moment was supreme. Horses as well aS
men felt its unique stimulus, and we
rushed through that camp, sweeping it
away as the sudden cloudbUrst in the
Rockies tears out the bed of the arroyo.
II was one Of those rare moments of life
when all sense Of individuality is merged
in that utterly overwhelming feeling of
eXaltation, in that intoXication of magnet
ism which often possesses large masses OF
men moved by some grand and simul-
taneous impulse. 1t was, perhaps, after
all, very trivial affair from military
point of view, but the sensation expert
enced was by no means Insignificant or
easily forgotten.
Part of the Turkish force took to fight
in time and escaped; those who remained
to defend their camp were sabred, spitted
like fowl On the lances or captured and led
back to the main column at the end Of o
lariat. The finale of this little incident
was fully as impressive as the charge it.
self, although in quite another way.
After we made camp that night the men
OF the regiment which had engaged the |
enemy were drawn up IN line with uncOV- |
cred heads and sang a religious hymn in
chorus How different now were those |
faces which a few hours before had been /
distorted with the cruel expressions Of |
hatred Of the infdel, or glCTified by the |
excitement of the charge or with the /
of victory. Uniforms apart, /
the men looked like rank Of deYout, /
peaceful farmers, bronZed by the sun i'll |
the fields and begrimed with the dust Of .
agriculture. The hymn rolled forth in |
quaint, sad cadences, tuned to a minor
key, like most of the native melodies. |
Along the ranks gap purposely left here .
and there showed where a comraGe had |
stood the day before. Although | could .
not catch a word they sang, the signifi-
eance of the hymn could not be mistaken.
Many rough hands brushed fearful ewes
before the last mOurnful note died avTav,
and the regiment then dispersed about the
camp with quiet step, as if the least
noise were an insult TO the dead-F. D.
Millett in Harpers.